Great Migrations: Wildebeest and Whale Sharks

Quick Facts

• Special Status: UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Location: Northern Tanzania
• Land mass: 14,750 km²
• Mammal species: 300+
• Bird species: 500+
• Big 5 reserve: Yes

Activities

• Game drives
• Hot air balloon safari
• Night drives (limited)
• Walking safari (limited)

Highlights

• Wildebeest migration
• Big 5 destination
• Prolific predator sightings
• World-leading leopard destination
• Sheer abundance and variety of animals
• World-famous hot air balloon safari

The Serengeti National Park is amongst the most well-known wildlife reserves in Africa, and indeed the world. Inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981 it has been the subject of many BBC wildlife documentaries.

With a total area of 14,750 km² the Serengeti is a large reserve. To give perspective, its land mass is equal to that of the U.S state of Connecticut or the United Kingdom’s largest county, Yorkshire. It is located in the north of the country and is one of the northern circuit reserves alongside Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

This location within a circuit makes it an ideal inclusion for an overland safari. Road travel is the most popular method to access the park. Fly-in safari into one of the airstrips dotted around the park is also a possibility for those short on time. It is common to arrive by road but depart by air to save time and the strenuous road journey back to Arusha.

Being a national park somewhat limits the activities on offer. Game drives are the overwhelming activity of choice with balloon safari a welcome alternative. Park regulations have been relaxed in some areas of the park with some operators now able to offer night drives, walking safari, and cultural interaction.

The Serengeti National Park is renowned for its abundant and varied wildlife. It is unique in the fact the blue wildebeest is arguably the flagship species due to the famous migration. Each year 2 million individuals make the never ending journey in search of fresh pastures.

The park has solid predator numbers including 4,000 lions, 1,000 leopards, 225 cheetahs, caracal, and serval. The dogs are represented by the presence of bat-eared fox, side-striped jackal, and black-backed jackal, as well as 300 individuals of the elusive and difficult to see African wild dog. Three of the four hyena species are present. Spotted hyena are the most abundant but you may get lucky and see striped hyena and the aardwolf. Do not expect to see a brown hyena as their natural range does not extend beyond Southern Africa. Huge Nile crocodile should not be overlooked due to their spectacular performance in the wildebeest’s Mara River crossings.

Maintaining the predators are a huge number of herbivores including an estimated 900,000 Thomson’s gazelles, 300,000 zebras, 7,000 elands, 27000 topis, 18,000 hartebeests, 70,000 Cape buffalos, 4,000 giraffes, 2,700 elephants, and 500 hippopotamus.

The Serengeti is a Big 5 reserve due to the presence of black rhinoceros. However, with only 200 individuals in such an expansive area (1 rhino per 74 km²) they can be difficult to see. Do not expect to see white rhinoceros as they have never been resident in Tanzania.

Best Time To Visit

The Serengeti National Park is considered a year-round destination but it does vary at different times of the year. There is no time of year that offers you the best of everything so we provide you with a balanced account throughout the year so you are able to make an informed decision.

The seasons in Serengeti National Park can be roughly divided into dry seasons and rainy seasons as follows; the short dry season (January to mid-March),  long rainy season (mid-March to late May), long dry season (June- October), and short rains (November & December). The temperature is pretty consistent throughout the year. May to August are the cooler months with mornings and evenings potentially requiring a light jacket but otherwise its remains hot. Rainfall is at its highest from mid-March to late May and again in November. April is the month to seriously consider whether you should travel as rain can be torrential and persistent with roads becoming impassable.

Wildlife viewing, as with most locations, is more prolific in the dry season. The long dry season is the best time in the Serengeti and this improves as the season wears on. The dry landscape exposes wildlife and their behaviour becomes predictable as they congregate around permanent water sources.

The wildebeest migration is best observed from January to July. From January-March large herds congregate in the southern Serengeti making them extremely accessible. This is the calving season and for around 3 weeks, usually in February, the area is awash with baby animals and an abundance of opportunistic predators. The animals move into the central Serengeti in April and May and this is also a good time to observe them. They migrate towards the Western corridor from late May or June and cross the Grumeti River. July and August sees the animals migrate north and it is usually around this time that the Mara River crossings over into the Maasai Mara occur.

Unfortunately, the best time to view wildlife coincides with the highest prices of the season and the most tourist traffic. Prices and tourist numbers peak around Christmas and the New Year and from mid-June through October. April to mid-June is the best time to travel for those on a budget or those wanting a quieter and more authentic experience. The short dry season and short rainy season offers somewhat of a compromise on both accounts.

The bush is at its most lush during and soon after the rains. This time is usually the best time of year for those wanting to see a large abundance of migratory birds. As the dry season wears on the vegetation dies off and the land takes on a parched appearance.